Timer and distributing device.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. J. M.' SMITH. TIMER AND DISTRIBUTING DEVICE.

gxPPLIoATIN PI'LED MAY 1.7, 1912., n Patented Deo. 9, 1913.

ATTORNEYS.

G INVENTOR ,7 Q Y n.1...

J. M. SMITH.

TIMERl AND DISTRIBUTINGDEYICE. APPLICATION FILED MAY'lv, llz.

`1";(3801788- Patented Dec. 9,1913. Y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.,

INV'ENTOR ATTORNEYS 4b -wliich is easily and eifectively loperated'to UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

JAMES M. SMITH, or PHILADELPHIA, rENNsYEvaNIA, AssIGNon or ONE-HALF To v CHARLES' ADsIT MAGRUDER, oF BRYN MAWR, rENNs'YLvANIA.

TIMER AND DISTRBUTING DEVICE.

Specication of Letters Pate'nt.

Patented 1360.9, 1913.

Application led. May 17, 1912. Serial No. 697,880.

To all whom t mag/concern# Be it known that I, JAMEs M. SMITH, a

.citizen of the-United States, residing at certain new and useful Improvements inA Timers and Distributing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be va full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in timing and distributing mechanisms for the ignition systems of internal combustion engines; and, the present invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construct-ion of automatic timing and distributing mechanism for controlling an electric current, to intermittently make and break the circuit thereof, and'successively connect the sparking-terminals of a plurality of engine-cylinders with the source of generation of said electric current, so as to successively ignite or explode the charges of gas within the cylinders ofthe engine.

The present invention has for itsv principalobject to provide a novel, simple, and eii'ective mechanism of the charz'ieteA above `set forth, adapted to be geared in connection with the main shaft of an explosive engine in such` a manner, that its parts operate in a f' properly timed relation to the respective pisadvanceor' retard the time o-f production oftons of the engine cylinders. g v

A further object of the invention is to provide ay novel construction of"`.zc ontact mounting for the make and break device,

advancelorretard the contact-closing periods of the make and break device, and to the sparks Twithin the respective enginecylinders,` such novel contact-mounting bevtime more ing combined with a make and break device' which will only operate when the main shaft of the engine turns or rotates in the proper or normal direction. `y

Other objects of this invention not at this articularly enumerated, will be clearly evi ent from the following detailed I description ofthe said invention;

n VVitht-he various objects of the present invention in view, the said invention consists, primarily, in the novel electric currenttiming and distributing mechanism herein-v after set forth; and, the invention consists, fu'rthermore,in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and the Yparts thereof, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be more fully described in the following specication, and then finally embodied in the clauses 'of the claim which areappendedv ing mechanism, l(illustrated in side elevation), made according to and embodying the principlesof the present invention. Fig. 2 is an interior plan view ofthe internal make and break mechanism; Fig. 3 isifsimilarv view illustrating the normal operation of said make and break mechanism; and Fig. 4

is another similar view, showing the manner in which the said make and break mechanisin is prevented from closing the circuit, when the main shaft of the engine turns or rotates in the wrong direction. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken on line 5)*5 in said Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow m, the additional distributing mechanism being also shown. Fig. 6 is a detail transverse section, taken on line 6-6 in said Fig. 5, said View illust-rating more particularly the distributing mechanism, and Fig. 7 is a -det-ail vertical section, taken on line 7 7 in said Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow y. n

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the abovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the -said drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates an internal combustion engine, 2` indicates its main shaft, andi-l indicates the sparking terminals or plugs 4with which its respective cylinders are provided. The reference-character 4 indicates a battery, or other source of electrical energy for supplying the current of the ignition system, and 5 is the usual trans- I former or induction coil for use in said ignition system.

The vreference-character 6 casing which is adapted to contain and support the novel timing and distributing mechanism. Preferably integrally connected with said casing 1.6, and being centrally.

disposed and extending outwardly from the back 7 thereof, is a tubular hub 8 which is .provided with a reduced extension 9,

ladapted to receive a yoke-member or collar longitudinal movement of the said spindle' 12 inan inward direction. The outer end lof said spindle i2 is provided a re-- ceiving socket or opening v14, adapted to receive one end of a countershat 15, Which is geared in driven connection, means orn the respective gear-members and with said main shat l2 of the `internal combustion engine 1, said counter-sbafi'fl 15 being secured in. its connection with 'the said spindle 12 by means of a set-Soren7 17, or any other desirable form of fastening or coupling means.v The i ner end oi' said spindle 12 is provided r h a reduced en:- 'tension 18, which passes suitable .opening 19 in the oaclr t? said casing 6 penetrates into the i A is i f ing. ,ournaled upon said sion '18, so to fire a movable plate or base 2G, anc. cured upon said plate or 'oase member 2l, which. W gina! circumference p f rinU i electrical conta Wit, f 2G, by means a disk or sheet 22, n 23, by means i" secured 'to said.

sulaled v indicates a the said plate is permitted o sraddle the Loser/e8 25, whereby an electrical current, to be subsequently described, passes into Isaid ringxnember 21 and the several contact-posts 25 mounted thereon. Connected with said reduced extension 18 of said spindle l2, so as to Abe rotated thereby, is a dislr 29 suitably provided With a hub-portion 3G for engaging said reduced extension 18. Mounted upon Said rotating-disk 29 is a post 31 adapted to support an adjustable contact-screw 32, said screw being provided at its free end With a non-corroding contact-point 38. The said rotating disk 29 carries a supporting plate "34, which is insulated from electrical contact with said rotating disk 29 by means of an intervening sheet 85 of a suitable insulating material. Said supporting plate 34- is held in this secured position by means ol screws 36 Which are also insulated from electrical Contact with said supporting-plate by means of suitable insulating sleeves 37. Said supportingplate- 34, is 1u;thermorc provided with a suitably disposed cut-away portion or opening 38, by rf o oi? which 90 hub-portion 30 and said post and in such a manner so as to avoid electrical contact therewith.

rihe reference-character S9 indicates a fuicrum-post, said post being p i screw-threaded sh nir to screwed into a suitacl, scie/vet1 @ded opening, prepared for its reception, said suportine'- ate 34. rEhe free ene f said iul'- Crum-post is provided with a pivotstud 100 upon which is pivotally mounted supporting biocl i2 of a make and 'L device. Suitabi f secured uson the siiinortins' 1 w l v :a clock is an outwardly extendi 'aciret or arm L13, and suitably connecten a spring-piatte lili, said spi" leiing the said bracket 'or arn'i l Y g slightly offset ther trom, so as to room `for the exercise oi ts spring-l" notion or yieldablencss. .Che end l bracket or arm 1-3 as to forni a retai i' to iii .it the ontw oi? said springneet-ed provided at or armmoGus a right-angled extension forni- "opening 65.

56 adapted to receive one 'end of a coiledA spring 57, the othereiid of said spring being secured to an anchorpost 58 formed upon said base-piece' 48. The said coil-spring 57 serves the double purpose of maintaining in and returning to normal. position bothA said pawl or member 53 and said lever or arm 50, aswell as the bracket`- or arm 43 and said spring-plate 44. Connected With said lever ing a stopearm 47, projecting from the fixed end of said lever or arm 50 and extending across the end-surface of `said supporting block 42. Secured upon saidsupportingplate 34 is the base-piece 48 of an upwardly proj ecting stop-portion 49, which is adapted to be engaged by the said stop-arm 47 to limit the pivotal movement of said lever or arm^50, bracket or arm 43, and said spring' plate 44,v in one direction, whereby their normal position is located. Suitably connected with the outer end of said casing 6 is a cylindrical casing 59, which is provided with a cover-plate 60, both Iof said parts being made of some suit-able insulating or non-conducting material. The said coverplate 60 is provided with ai centrally disposed perforation or opening '61 in which is arranged a tubular member or sleeve 62, provided With an annular flange 63 bearing upon the inner surface of said cover-plate 60. Said sleeve 6 2 is provided at its outer end'with an externally screvvthreaded part 64 and an internally enlarged portion or A chambered or hollow nutshaped body 66 is screwed upon said exter nally screw-threaded post"64, against a' screw-threaded Washer 67 also arranged upon said externally screw-threaded part 64, so as to bear against the outer surface of said cover-plate 60. Said nut-shaped body 66 is provided with an outwardly ex tent ing portion 68, from theeXtreme end of which projects a.reduced screw-threaded shank 69 adapted to receive a nut-piece 70, to which may be attached an electrical conductor or wire. Arranged Within the inter` nally enlarged portion or opening 65 of said sleeve 62 is the head 71 of a contactplug or brush 72, a coiled spring 73 being arranged back of said head to press said plug or brush outwardly, and to thereby compel the same to make electrical Contact with certain parts of a current distributing mechanism. Connected with the free end of said reduced extension 18 of the spindle 12, bymeans of a transverse pin 74, or any other 'suitable fastening means, is a hubiiieinber 75, the samebeing made of some suitable insulating or non-conducting mateiial. The outer end of said -hub-member -is provided with a recess or socket adapted to receive the disk-portion 7.6" of a metallic contact-arm or brush 77, lthe said Adisk-portion being secured in any suitable manner to said hub-meniber, soasto turn or rotate therewith. Secured upon the inner side of 4said casing 59 are a plural-ity of suitably disposed contact-points 78, which are' pro.

' electrical current for producing the ignition- The previous mentioned plug or spark. brush 72 is adapted to make constant contact with said contact-arm or brush 77.

The primary electrical-circuit is run as follows: The battery 4 is connected with the primary Winding of the transformer or induction coil 5, the electrical conductor or Wire 82 connecting the primary Winding of said induction`coil 5 with the binding-post 27, whereupon the primary current passes into said ring-member 2l and its contactposts 25, thro-ugh the spring-leaf brush or member 28. The spindle 12 being rotated inl proper time and speed-relation by means of.

the main .shaft 2 of the engine, the same causes a rotation of the disk 29 andthe supporting-plate 34 carried thereby, in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 2. This .i

rotation carries around the make and break mechanism, and thereby brings into suc-1l cessive contact with said contact-posts 25, the cam-like nosing 54 of said pawl or member 53. lVlieii so engaged, any pivotal move# ment of said pawl or member 53 upon its pintle or pin 52 is resisted, since the slioulders 55 thereof are caused to press against the edges of the perforated ears 51,0f the lever of arm 50. Consequently, the lever 0r arm itself is pushed forward or oscillated, so as to turn the saidsupporting block 42, and thereby carries said bracket-arm 43 and its spring-plate 44 forward, so thatthe contact-point` 46 of the latter is brought into contact `with tlie contact-point 33 of the contact-screw 32, the said spring-plate 44 f yielding to the pressure of said contacting i points and thereby assuring a positive coritact. Such contact having been made, the

primary electrical current -is bridged through the said make and break mechanism, and thereupon flows into said rotating disk 29, and through the spindles, shafts, etc., iiito the ground formed by the engine-frame,

thence passing through the bindingpost183 and the return-Wires@ back to thebattery. ,4, whereby the primary circuit is completed.

Upon 4the making' and breaking ofthe primary circuit the l:f'elfcondary Winding of the transformer or induction Vcoil 5 is excited, thereby inducing a-'secondary electrical current, Which is delivered from said transformer coil to the distributingmechanism by the Wire or electrical conductor 85,4and is thereupon distributed by said distributing mechanism to the sparking-terminals or plugs 3, as above described, and in a manner clearly to be'imderstood by those skilledA in the art to which this inventionv appertains. lAs the make' and break mechanism passes, during its rotation, 'the several contact-posts 25, it makes contact with the same, thus producing an intermittent making and breaking of the primary circuit,

and a consequent intermittent generation of which isl secured the system fof operating` levers 88.. The back 7 of the casing G is` provided With an elongated slot or opening 89, through Which said stud 86 passes, and Which permits the proper movement of the same. By a proper operation of the said levers 87, a pull or push is communicated to said stud 86, which partially rotates or oscillates said plate or base 2O and said ring-member 2l, thereby shifting the positionot' said contact-posts'25 with reference to the rotating make and break-mechanism, and as will be clearly evident, either advancinfr or retardinor the time of the sarkdelivery in accordance With the direction of the lmovement of said contact-posts.

It' it happens `that the main shaft 2 of the engine is rotated, by reason of any cause, in a direction opposite to its normal and operative' direction of rotation, the same cam-like nosing 54 of said paWl or member 53 connected with said lever or arm 50 of the make and break mechanism, is so engaged by said contact-posts 25, that the same Will yield to the'same and Will-ride over said contact-posts 25 Without oscillating said lever-arm 50, as is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings; hence, no closing of the respective Contact points 46 and 33 is produced, and the primary circuit remains unbroken.

I am aware that changes-may' be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as

-Well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, 'Without departing from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the foregoing specicatio/n and as delined in the clauses of the claims Which are appended'thereto. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and .combinations of the various devices and parts as herein describednor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim l. In a device of the class described, a casing, a plate mounted Within said casing so as to be capable of rotary oscillation, a ringmember mounted onsaid plate but insulated therefrom, a plurality of contactposts mounted on said ring-member, means for connecting said ring-member and said contact-posts in an electrical circuit, a movable contact-device, and a contact means stationary With rel'ag'tion to said movable contactdevice, said contact means being connected insaid electrical circuit, means for rotating said movable contact-device and-said stationary contact means, whereby the former successively engages said contact-posts so as to be moved into circuit-closing contact with said stationary contact means, and means for oscillating said plate and ring-member to shift the position of said contactosts to advance or retard the operation o said movable contact device. 2.v In a device of 'the kind described, a plurality or' contact-posts connected in an electrical circuit, a rotating disk, a Stationary contact-device carried by said rotating disk, rotating-disk and stationary contact device being included in said electrical circuit, a supportin plate connected with said rotating disk, ut insulated from said rotating disk and said stationary contact-device, a movable contact device pivotally supported upon said supporting plate, means connected with said movable contactdevice adapted to successively engage said contact-posts when said rotating disk is rotated -in a proper direction, to move said removable contactdevice into circuit-closing engagement with said stationary contact-device, but yieldable to said contact-posts Without moving said movable contact-device when said rotating disk is rotated in an opposite direction.

3l In a device of the kind described, a plu- A-rality of contact-posts connected in an electrical circuit,.a rotating disk, a stationary contact-device carried by said rotating disk,

said rotating-disk and stationary contact device being included in said electrical circuit, a supporting plate connected with said rotating disk, but insulated from said rotating diskand said stationary contact-device, a

movable contact device pivotally supported l .upon said supporting plate, means connected with said movable contact-device adapted to successively engage said contact-posts when said rotating disk is rotated inA a proper diy rection, to move said movable contact-device into circuit-closing engagement with said stationary contact device, but yieldabl'e to said contact posts without moving said movried by said rotating disk, said rotating disk, 'post and contact-screw being included in said electrical circuit, a supporting plate connected with said rotating disk, but electrically insulated from said rotating disk, post and contact-somma movable contact-device pivotally supported upon said supporting plate, means c onnected With said movable contact-,device adapted to successively engage said contact-posts when said rotating disk is rotated in a proper direction to move said movable contact-device into circuit closing relation to said contact-posts and said contact-screw, but yieldable to said contactposts Without moving' said movable contact device,"tvlien said rotating-disk is rotated in an -opposite direction, andmeans for oscillating said plate, ring-member and contact- -posts to shift the position ofthe latter so as to' advance or retard the'circuit-closing or bridging movement device.

of said movable contact-y 5. In adevice of the kind described, a. casing, a plate movably mounted Within said casing, a stud connected Withl said plate and projecting 4through an opening'witli which said casing is provided, levers connected With said stud for shifting said plate, a ringmember carried by said plate but electrically insulated therefrom, a plurality of contactposts supported upon Asaid ringmember, means for connecting said ring-member'and contact-posts inan electrical circuit, a spindle journaled in Saidcas'ing, a rotating disk connected with and operated by said spindle, a contact-receiving means connected With said rotating disk and included 'in said electrical circuit, a supporting plate connected With said rotating disk but electrically in'- sulated from said rotating disk and said contact-receiving means carried thereby, a movable contact-device pivotally supported upon said supporting plate, and means connected with said movable contact-device adapted to successively engage said contact-posts to move said movable contact-device into cir-v cuit-closing and bridging contact with said contactosts and said contact-receiving means W en said rotating .disk is rotated in a proper direction, but yieldable to said contact-posts wit-hout moving said movable contact-device when said rotating disk is rotated in an opposite .or Wrong direction.

6. In a device of the kind described, a casing, a plate movably mounted Within said casing, a stud connected with said plate` and projecting through an opening With which said casing is provided, levers connected with said stud for shifting said plate, a ring-member carried by said plate .but electrically insulated therefrom, a plurality of contact-posts supported upon said ring-` member, means for connecting said ringmember and contact-posts in an electrical circuit, a' spindle journaled in said casing, a rotating disk connected with and operated by said spindle, a contact-receiving means -connected with said rotating disk and included in said electrical circuit, a supporting plate connected Withsaid rotating disk but electrically insulated from said rotating disk and said contact-receiving means carried thereby, a movable contact-device pivotally supported upon said supporting plate, means connected With said movable contact-device adapted to successively engage said contact-posts to move said movable contact-device into circuit-closing and bridgiivy contact .with said contact-posts and said contact-receiving means When said rotating disk is rotated in a proper direction, but yieldable to said' contact-posts Without moving said movable contact-device When said rotating disk is rotated in an. opposite or Wrong direction, and means for distributing a secondary electrical current operated by said spindle.

7. In a device of the kind described, a casing, a plate movably mounted within said casing, a stud connected with said plate and projecting through an opening With Which said casing is provided, levers connected with, said stud forl shifting said plate, a ring-membercarried by` said plate` but electrically insulated therefrom, a plurality of contact-posts supported upon said ringmember, means forv connecting said ringmember and contact-posts in an electrical circuit, a spindle journaled in said casing, a -rotating disk connected with and operated by said spindle, a contact-receiving means connected With said rotating disk and included in said electrical circuit, a' supporting plate connected with said rotating disk but electrically insulated from said rotating diskand-said contact-receiving means car- 'ried thereby, a movable contact-device pivotally supported upon said supporting ien o f. Said new 'eo :lo succes' l f i move said mov- 4e contact-device circuit-closing and bridging contact ..itli Said contact-posts and said contact-receiving means, when said rotating disk is rote-ted in a proper direction, out yieldalole to said contact-posts `without moving` said movable contact-device when said rotating diei; is rot-ated in an oposite or Wren@ direction and means for distributing a secondary electrical current comprising a plurality of contact-points, aV zotating contact-arm connected With but insulated electrically from said spindle, and means or connecting said rotating contactarm in the circuit of said electrical current.

8. In a device of the kind described, a casing, a plate mounted Within Said casing so as to be capable of rotary oscillation, a ring,-

:merecer carried by said plate vlout insulated l" n 'I a" i tnererorn, a pluralliy or contact-posts on said ring-member, means for connecting said 

